Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. She was soft in my embrace, her warm scent overriding all the other smells around us. Her hand clutched at my arm, the paleness of her skin contrasting with my much darker, tanned forearm. She fit under my chin perfectly, and somehow I knew if I lowered my head, her hair would be silky and thick on my cheek. Her breathing was shallow, her chest pumping the air quickly.
Surrounded as we were by the darkness, holding her felt oddly intimate.
And incredibly right.
I stepped back. “Careful, darlin’.”
She nodded, and a moment later, we walked into the bright lights. She heaved a sigh and turned to look at me. It was the first time I could see her features clearly. She was pretty with dark hair and an unusual color of seafoam green eyes. They were framed by long lashes and were striking.
“Thank you,” she said.
I nodded. “Good thing I was headed that way.”
She looked confused, and I pointed to the right. “The beer garden. I was thirsty.”
She looked over, then took in a deep breath. “May I buy you a beer?” she asked. “To say thanks.”
My first instinct was to say no. But I found I didn’t want to.
“Sure.”
She smiled. Her full mouth curled into a wide, toothy grin, two deep dimples appearing high on her cheeks. “Great.”
I took the beer she offered me, and we sat at a table in the back, sipping the cold brew and letting the chatter happen around us. A few curious gazes strayed our way, but I ignored them.
“I’m Quinn,” she offered.
“John.”
“Thank you, John.”
I lifted my beer in a silent toast, grateful I had been there. I shuddered to think what might have happened. While Quinn was getting our beers, I had seen one of the local cops and told him what occurred, and he and the others were keeping their eyes open. He recalled seeing a trio hurrying through the parking area and a souped-up truck leaving quickly, and I had to agree with him it was probably them, leaving with their tails tucked between their legs.
He had shaken his head. “They were twigs compared to you, John. You could have snapped them like kindling. No doubt you scared the shit outta them.”
“Good riddance,” was my reply.
I looked across the table at Quinn. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” She leaned closer. “I assume you’re a local?”
“Yep. Born and bred.”
“I’m from Oshawa.”
“And you’re visiting a friend?”
She nodded. “My grandparents had a small place a few miles down the road. I came out in the summers. I met her when I was seven, and we’ve been friends ever since. We don’t see much of each other, but I hope that changes.”
I didn’t ask how or why. I would never see this woman again, so I didn’t want to delve.
I finished my beer, sliding the glass away. “Thanks for that, Quinn. Be careful, okay?”
She frowned. “Should I be worried?”
“No. It’s normally a safe place. Just stick to the lighted areas.”
She looked over my shoulder. “I might just go home.”
The words were out before I could stop them. “I can walk around with you.”
She paused, then smiled. “Great.”
We strolled the midway, walking around families, couples, and other individuals. Most of the time, I walked behind her, a silent shadow. I didn’t make eye contact with many people, not really wanting to talk to anyone. I had already done the circuit earlier, but something in me didn’t want to leave Quinn alone. I felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness for the woman, which surprised me. It wasn’t normal for me to feel anything for anyone outside my family.
She was a talker, pointing out things I had never noticed before. How the lights glimmered in the dark. The sheen of the rides as they whizzed by. She noticed people’s shoes, their hats, whispering in mock horror over the long talons teenage girls seemed to like these days.
“I would poke my eye out,” she confessed.
I noticed her nails were short, buffed, and nude. I didn’t tell her I preferred the natural look. It seemed too personal somehow.
But I did find her amusing, and I had to admit, her droll comments made me smile more than once. I couldn’t recall smiling that much in a long time.
Quinn pointed out a few craft stands, and we stopped and watched the rides for a moment.
“Did you want to go on one?” I found myself asking.
“No. I just like to watch.”
“Hungry?”
She laughed. “No. I’m good.”
She stared at the game booths, laughing as a guy tried to win a teddy bear for his girl. She eyed me up. “I bet you could hit the bell.”
“You want me to try?” I offered.
She hesitated. “Really?”
“Sure.”
We joined the group in front, and I wondered how I’d gotten there. Standing in line, waiting to swing a mallet and win a stupid bear for a woman I didn’t know. It was almost as if I wanted to impress her.